Adell Blue Faulkner

HENDERSON - Adell Blue Faulkner passed away peacefully on October 29, 2024 at the age of 97. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, she was known for her devotion to her family and church. Born in Roxboro on March 21, 1927 to Obidiah Jackson Blue and Emma Gates Blue, Adell was a member of the Greatest Generation who was born just before the Great Depression and came of age during World War II. She graduated from Henderson High School in 1944 and went on to build a career with Carolina Telephone and Telegraph. She married the love of her life, Cecil U. Faulkner in 1946 and they settled in Henderson to raise their three children, Daryl, Barry, and Lynette. A lifelong member of New Sandy Creek Baptist Church, she made many friends through her service and commitment there. She served as a leader in the Girls Auxiliary, was an active member of the Marjorie Spence Women’s Missionary Union and sang in the church choir for many years. Her faith inspired her to open her home to visitors through the Baptist State Convention and to join mission trips to Trinidad, Barbados, and Guatemala, where she shared her faith with communities abroad. Throughout her life she embraced every opportunity to visit family and explore the world. Her travels lead her across Europe to Germany, Austria, Holland and Scotland. She saw the sights and took in shows in places like the Grand Canyon, Fort Caswell, Austin, San Diego, Maryland, Branson, Nashville, and the coasts of North and South Carolina. In 2011, Adell moved to The Landing, an Independent Living apartment in Wilson to be close to Lynette. There she made many friends and enjoyed playing bingo and attending special activities. She was an avid reader and you could always find stacks of books around her. She was the longest living resident of that facility this year. She was known there for her great smile and sweet attitude. She was the beloved mother of Daryl Faulkner and wife Teri of Charlotte, Barry Faulkner and wife Dorothy of Oxford, and Lynette Moody and husband Larry of Wilson; grandmother of Natalie Faulkner Robertson, Heather Hepler, Jamie Smith, Wendy Parenteau, Bettie Wiggins, Lynette Faulkner, Susan Patterson, Stephanie Whitley, Meredith Heffner, and Caroline Timiney. She is survived by her dear brother Edward Blue and his wife Betty of Henderson. She is also survived by 21 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. Adell leaves behind a large family of nieces and nephews that adored her. Adell was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Underwood Faulkner, her parents, Obidiah Jackson Blue and Emma Gates Blue, an infant daughter, Karen Delorese Faulkner, siblings Belva Harris, Henry Blue, Clayborn Blue, Claud Blue, Vernon Blue, Preston Blue, Obidiah Blue Jr., and Iris Simmons, two granddaughters, Shanna Faulkner Collins and Melanie Faulkner Suggs and great-grandson Stephen Clay Faulkner. Expressions of gratitude go to her amazing caregivers, Mary Melton, Jean Spells, Wanda Best, and Lisa Johnson. Spending many hours with them made them a big part of our family. Thanks to Gentiva Hospice for the care they also provided. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on November 17th at 2:00 pm conducted by Rev. Tim Burgess at New Sandy Creek Baptist Church (1699 Weldons Mill Rd Henderson, NC 27537). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to New Sandy Creek Building Fund honoring her lifelong dedication to the church and her faith.